Temple outside linebacker Tyler Matakevich is a tackling machine, having recorded 237 in his first two seasons. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior led the nation with 8.8 tackles per game in 2013. The Midshipmen will need to find a way to block Matakevich and his fellow linebackers to have success on the ground.

Last week against Ohio State, Navy struggled to block middle linebackers Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry, who combined to make 16 tackles. The Mids often block outside linebackers with slotbacks or wide receivers, but may want to make sure to get a bigger body on Matakevich.

"He's a very good football player – always around the ball, real smart. It's hard to trick him. He's very physical and gets to the football," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said.

Middle linebacker Nate D. Smith is also a two-year starter and a physical presence.

Temple defensive coordinator Phil Snow has no doubt emphasized containing the pitch element of the triple-option. However, the Owls have issues in that area as both starting safeties – Boye Aromire and Nate L. Smith – are questionable with leg injuries. A third safety, Alex Wells, is out after sustaining a knee injury in the opener.

"Obviously, against the option, you depend on the safeties to make plays on the pitch," Temple coach Matt Rhule said.

SERIES HISTORY: Tied 5-5. Navy beat Temple four straight seasons (2005-2009), but lost the last meeting – 27-24 in 2009 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

OF NOTE: Navy is hoping to avoid starting a season 0-2 for the second time in the last three seasons. Consecutive losses to Notre Dame and Penn State to open the 2012 campaign marked the only time since 2001 the Mids had been 0-2.

• Temple is attempting to start 2-0 for the third time since 2010. Prior to then, the Owls had not started 2-0 since 1981. Navy beat Temple four straight years (2005-2008), but lost the last matchup between the teams – 27-24 in 2009.

• Lincoln Financial Field has been a home away from home for Navy, which boasts 10-0 record at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Navy is 3-3 in road openers under Niumatalolo.

• Navy's opponents combined for an 8-2 record and outscoreD the opposition 431-202 in Week 1. One of the two losses was by Georgia Southern, which was beaten 24-23 at N.C. State.

QUOTE-UNQUOTE: "I'm super impressed with Temple. I watched a lot of their offseason stuff on videos, just some of the things they were doing in preparation was pretty impressive. Matt Rhule is a good football coach. (Defensive coordinator) Phil Snow has been around this game a long time. Obviously, they are much improved. To go down and beat Vanderbilt the way they did, that wasn't a fluke. They got after them pretty good. We're going to have our hands full. We're still the Naval Academy. The last couple times we've played these guys, they beat us." - Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo

"Navy does such a great job of cut blocking. You can be right there to make the play and suddenly get cut. So it's about being assignment-sound and also we need to stay on our feet. You have to play at a really high level and you have to play extremely tough against this offense." - Temple head coach Matt Rhule